Interior judges: 1st or 2nd edition manuals for my '63?

[William M.]

May 20, 1963 build date
I have acquired original 1st and 2nd edition owner's manuals as well as original 1st and 2nd edition owner protection plans
Which are correct for my car?

[Dave S.]

Re: Interior judges: 1st or 2nd edition manuals for my '63?

May 20, 1963 build date
I have acquired original 1st and 2nd edition owner's manuals as well as original 1st and 2nd edition owner protection plans
Which are correct for my car?

Bill,
My research does not show original second edition's in 1973 with either piece however I do not question that second editions exist. With a May car I would say you definately have a second edition time frame. Just be sure that your pieces are originals and i would go with them. The latest dated second edition Corvette owners manual I have seen is 1967 with is dated April 1967. Most other second editions are dated earlier and some have no dates. Dates on warranty books/folders are a differnet story. Many first and/or second editions have no dates.

[Dave S.]

Re: Interior judges: 1st or 2nd edition manuals for my '63?

Bill,
My research does not show original second edition's in 1973 with either piece however I do not question that second editions exist. With a May car I would say you definately have a second edition time frame. Just be sure that your pieces are originals and i would go with them. The latest dated second edition Corvette owners manual I have seen is 1967 with is dated April 1967. Most other second editions are dated earlier and some have no dates. Dates on warranty books/folders are a differnet story. Many first and/or second editions have no dates.

Bill,
I think of you as a 1973 guy and responded with 1973 in mind.

Now I'll try to respond for 1963.

1963 has a second edition but it has no date. Your car is late enough by far to require a second edition.

Warranty books in 1963 come in two variations.The first yellow cover # 3821481 (no edition given). The second has an orange/pink cover and is #3838412. No edition given. I understand thai booklet has been seen as early as Corvette VIN # 618.

Sorry for the confusion between 1963 and 1973.

[William M.]

Re: Interior judges: 1st or 2nd edition manuals for my '63?

Thanks, Dave. I'm good with the 1973, as I bought that with ALL original paperwork and manuals.

I wasn't so lucky with the 1963, as all it came with was a very tired 1st edition owner's manual with half the Corvette News card removed. I managed to find a very nice 2nd edition with the Corvette News card still intact. I'm convinced of the originality as they both have the offset staples, crisp photography and printing consistent with what I've read in the archives. So it seems I should use the 2nd edition for judging, since it is in better condition and has the full card.

What I'm not as sure about is the Owners Protection Plan. I acquired pink 1st and 2nd editions (yellow would be too early for my car). Both have the original owners info written in them, with the lower portion of that page removed. Both have all the vouchers. The 2nd edition is in better condition but has a sticker from the originating dealer on the inside cover. Which should I use for judging?

[Dave S.]

Re: Interior judges: 1st or 2nd edition manuals for my '63?

Thanks, Dave. I'm good with the 1973, as I bought that with ALL original paperwork and manuals.

I wasn't so lucky with the 1963, as all it came with was a very tired 1st edition owner's manual with half the Corvette News card removed. I managed to find a very nice 2nd edition with the Corvette News card still intact. I'm convinced of the originality as they both have the offset staples, crisp photography and printing consistent with what I've read in the archives. So it seems I should use the 2nd edition for judging, since it is in better condition and has the full card.

What I'm not as sure about is the Owners Protection Plan. I acquired pink 1st and 2nd editions (yellow would be too early for my car). Both have the original owners info written in them, with the lower portion of that page removed. Both have all the vouchers. The 2nd edition is in better condition but has a sticker from the originating dealer on the inside cover. Which should I use for judging?

Bill,
I'd use the second edition. Your car is pretty late. Don't worry about the dealer sticker as that would not be part of the judging process. In fact, is validates the book as an original.

[Dave S.]

Re: Interior judges: 1st or 2nd edition manuals for my '63?

Bill,
I'd use the second edition. Your car is pretty late. Don't worry about the dealer sticker as that would not be part of the judging process. In fact, is validates the book as an original.

Bill,
1963 Corvette Owners manuals have a unique feature in that the "corvette news" card sticks out the right edge of the manual. Most/all repros or Helm re-issues do not do that. If the card does not stick out then you do not have an original.

[William M.]

Re: Interior judges: 1st or 2nd edition manuals for my '63?

Bill,
1963 Corvette Owners manuals have a unique feature in that the "corvette news" card sticks out the right edge of the manual. Most/all repros or Helm re-issues do not do that. If the card does not stick out then you do not have an original.

Yes, the card on my 2nd edition owner's manual sticks out. Repros I've seen don't do this. The staples are also offset, where repros are centered. Also, you can faintly see the pedals on the interior picture on page 27, not so on repros.
What about the writing and sticker inside the owners protection plan? If the document is being judged as it left the factory and not the dealer, this should warrant a deduction. Understanding it's at most a point, I guess I'll live with it. The only untouched NOS one I've seen was $500!

[Dave S.]

Re: Interior judges: 1st or 2nd edition manuals for my '63?

Yes, the card on my 2nd edition owner's manual sticks out. Repros I've seen don't do this. The staples are also offset, where repros are centered. Also, you can faintly see the pedals on the interior picture on page 27, not so on repros.
What about the writing and sticker inside the owners protection plan? If the document is being judged as it left the factory and not the dealer, this should warrant a deduction. Understanding it's at most a point, I guess I'll live with it. The only untouched NOS one I've seen was $500!

Bill,
The bigger issue is that the VIN does not match. I think the entire package is worth 5 points originality and 5 points condition. There can't possibly be a deduct for a dealer sticker and some writing. In my opinion the worst deduct would be 1 point for the VIN being incorrect and with 5 originality points to work with that might be a stretch. Go with what you have.

[William M.]

Re: Interior judges: 1st or 2nd edition manuals for my '63?

Bill,
The bigger issue is that the VIN does not match. I think the entire package is worth 5 points originality and 5 points condition. There can't possibly be a deduct for a dealer sticker and some writing. In my opinion the worst deduct would be 1 point for the VIN being incorrect and with 5 originality points to work with that might be a stretch. Go with what you have.

Good advice. Thanks again.